John 8:7: Jesus Stops An Execution In Progress

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

36 Reasons Christians Oppose State Murder (Execution)

Most of the predominantly Christian nations of the world haveoutlawed capital punishment. From Matthew to John 8: 7 the Gospelis full of Christ's infinite mercy, compassion, the universalforgiveness of the Good Shepherd.The officially Episcopalian nation of theUK, the Quakers or Friends, the Mennonites, Pat Robertson, PopeJohn Paul II, Sr. Helen Prejean, all US Catholic bishops are someof the hundreds of millions of Christians asking for a moratoriumon or end to the death penalty.Abba in Jesus' name cancel all executions everywherenow and forever. There are many Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs,Sufis, Jains and other religions represented well in the abolitionmovement.

36 REASONS THAT MANY CHRISTIANS SUPPORT ABOLITION OF THE DEATHPENALTY 1. Jesus stopped a capital punishment in progress, as a womanwas being stoned to death. He said that those without sin should castthe first stone. The Levitical law of the old Testament had mandatedexecutions for adultery, for both participants. It is interestingthat only the woman was brought for stoning in this incident. Jesussacrificed Himself but He would not sacrifice others. 2. As Jesus hada Last Supper, so do all executed people. One man in the US was soretarded he did not realize he could not save his dessert for later.3. Paul held the coats of those who stoned Stephen and himself wasinvolved in military campaigns against Christians. Yet no Christianasked for or was involved in his death, only Roman conquerors. 4.Cain, David, and Moses killed in jealousy, lust, and anger. Godprotected all of them from retribution. 5. Paul, Cain, David, Moses,and others received mercy. Jesus says in the Sermon On The Mount:Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 6. Exodus' TenCommandments: "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is not asterisked to say 'thisdoes not include state murder'. Earlier translations of the Biblesay 'kill' and not 'murder', because all killing was forbidden,whether or not the Israelites were ready for this message from God.While Moses (Exodus 6: 9) found that the Israelites, their Spiritsquenched by slavery, were not ready for the highest teaching,we pray all are ready now.7. Alcohol, drugs, some psychiatric medications and other substancesmake lesions in the aura, the electromagnetic field of the body.Through these, demons can enter and use the body as their weapon.When the demons depart, their victim is left to accept theconsequences. 8. Jesus says there is more joy on heaven for thehundredth lambs, than for anyone else. The people on death row,whether guilty or innocent, are hundredth lambs, whom we arecommanded to treat as our brothers and sisters by Jesus. 9.Scripture: "Judge not lest ye be judged". Violence is learnedbehavior. Abusers, many studies say, were abused. The death penaltyin punishing abusive abusers is akin to punishing the cue ball forthe direction it is sent by the stick. Only God has all the data. Noone else has enough factors to make an evaluation. 10. The parable ofthe eleventh hour laborer who received the same pay.. as those whoworked all day.. indicates that what is restitution .. amends..repayment.. is a decision for God and not the courts. 11. HelenPrejean: (paraphrased) Those who believe in the death penaltyidentify the condemned with the worst moment of his (or her) life..None of us is the worst thing we have done. We do not rape therapist. We do not batter the batterer. 12. Someone from NCR hascompared those governors who say they are upholding the law inexecuting .. to Pontius Pilate. 13. Luke 4: 18-19 Like the Sermon OnThe Mount this is one of many passages in which Jesus speaks of thedivine mission of helping the poor. Virtually no millionaires areexecuted in the United States, and proportionately fewer whites ondeath row than blacks. 14. Mary Alice Davis, editorial writer of theAustin American Statesman: The crucifix, the most famous symbol ofexecution 15. In replacing the Levitical law of retribution with HisLaw of Love, Jesus transcended Leviticus. 16. Isaiah: I delight notin your blood sacrifice. 17. Isaiah: They shall not hurt nor destroyin all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledgeof the Lord. Gone will be what Ann N describes as the pagan humansacrifice of witnessing the death row gurney, similar to the victimplaced upon the altar. 18. Love the Lord Thy God with thy wholeheart, thy whole soul, thy whole mind, thy whole self. Love thyneighbor as thyself. 19. The question of whether or not to beobedient to civil law is one every Christian answers for himself orherself. Jesus said "Which of you having an ox in the ditch would notrescue it on the Sabbath?" Paul said to obey the authorities, yet J Shas pointed out that Paul himself answered God in disobeying theRomans by continuing to preach. There are bribed legislators in manyhouses and senates. The letter of the law is one thing. The Spirit isanother. The mind is one thing. The heart which enshrines God has theultimate authority, for in it God whispers individual marching ordersto each person. 20. Bettie Beets quoting Jesus: What God hath joinedtogether let no one put asunder. 21. Father Forgive them for theyknow not what they do.. said Jesus as he hung suffocating on thecross. If Jesus could forgive crucifiers, He calls on you and me toforgive all. . If Jesus were here now, perhaps he would say "letthose without sin inject the first lethal injection.. let thosewithout sin throw the first electric chair switch". 22. Isaiah 59:They hasten to shed innocent blood. (Governor Ryan of Illinois in theUS began a permanent moratorium on the death penalty after beingconvinced that at least 14% of those executed, per DNA evidence, wereinnocent.) 23. Deuteronomy states that more than 1 witness isrequired to establish guilt or innocence, yet in Texas 1 witness sentsome to death row. 24. Numbers also echoes Deuteronomy. 25. BecauseGOD IS LOVE, because Jesus and His angels have the keys to hell, manyChristians do not believe in a permanent hell. But those who do arein their own minds sending unsaved prisoners to hell when they workfor the execution of rebellious prisoners. HE WRITES OUR SINS UPONTHE SAND AND ENGRAVES OUR VIRTUES IN THE STONE.. HE WASHES OUR ERRORSFROM THE LAND AND WRITES OUR LOVE IN THE HEART OF GOD26. In Matthew, Jesus says one should not swear or take oaths.Therefore a true Christian cannot testify in court against someone,because that involves swearing. Father in Jesus' name save the livesof all on death row in the US and everywhere. Bless Bettie Beets, Feb24, Texas, Terry Sims, Feb 23, Florida, Odell Barnes, March 1st,Texas, Philip Workman, April 6, Tennessee, Anthony Chaney, poet,Arizona death row. (Workman and Barnes are believed by many to beinnocent.)27. One woman said "these are convicted criminals". So was JesusChrist, convicted of a felony by a combination of Caesar andthose who rejected His message.28. Suffer the little children to come unto me. The United Statesis one of a handful of nations still executing juveniles. Othersare Iran, Yemen, Nigeria, and perhaps China. Half of thoseexecuted have been in Texas. 29. Most predominantly Christiannations in the world have banned the death penalty. 106 nations(perhaps more) have outlawed state murder.29. We are commanded to forgive 70 x 7 times, which manyinterpret to mean we are commanded to give infinite times.It is for God and not us to render judgment.30. In the Sermon On the Mount, Jesus said we should visitthe imprisoned, not murder them in the name of the state.31. Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.Jesus had the power to stop the release of the political revolutionaryBarabbas who believed in the use of violence to overthrowoccupying powers. But Jesus gave Himself in exchange.32. In Matthew 12, Jesus quotes Isaiah and says "I desire mercy,not sacrifice."33. John 6: 66 to John 6: 68 Jesus knows that many discipleswill leave Him as they are not strong enough for His teachingof universal love and do not understand His message about communion.34. Bianca Jagger compared governors who do nothing to modernPontious Pilates.35.Matthew 5:38-39

38 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and atooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: butwhosoever shallsmite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.36.In Matthew 12, Jesus quotes Isaiah and says "I desire mercy,not sacrifice."

A. 106 nations have outlawed the death penalty, 30 since 1990. B. TheUnited States executes more people than any other country exceptChina and the Congo(the latter during Civil War). C. The UnitedStates is one of six countries which still execute juveniles. Iran,Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia also execute juveniles. D. The UnitedStates has executed the citizens of Germany, Mexico, and Canada,despite protests of these governments that international lawprocedures were not followed. E. The United States has executedretarded people, F. While twelve states and the District of Columbiahave outlawed the death penalty, the unelected members of the JusticeDept. have sometimes swept into a community, says Senator RussFeingold of Wisconsin, taken over the investigation of a murder, andpressed for the death penalty even when the people of that state haveoutlawed it. G. Many Christian denominations have taken permanentstands against the death penalty. G1. In "The Kingdom of God IsWithin You" Leo Tolstoy whose nonviolence ignited Martin Luther Kingwrote that Christians should not be involved in executions. H. Onestate executed 7 people in 1 week. I. The death penalty does notdeter crime. Those states with the highest execution rates continueto have the highest murder rates, while countries in Europe whichhave outlawed capital punishment have fewer murders than the city ofLos Angeles. J. Of 85 people freed from death row after DNAestablished their innocence, 13 were in Illinois. One list personsaid that it seems that 2 witnesses against someone can equal thechair.

This is a skinned fox, part of the fur trade.

I PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: . BATHS: One inmate said if he ever got outthe first thing he would do would be to soak in a bathtub for thefirst time in 30 years. . TEMPERATURE: In some prison systems, olderinmates especially suffer from lack of fans, air conditioning, orwinter cold. THE RIGHT TO SUNSHINE AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE II HUMANGUINEA PIGS In Vacaville, California, Pennsylvania, Alabama and manyother prison systems, prisoners have been subjected to medicalexperimentation and to mind control projects. III PROTECTION FROMRAPE, VIOLENCE, THEFT: All prisons need to upgrade protection fromviolence, rape, and theft at the hands of other prisoners and guards.IV LEGAL RIGHTS: . universal access to DNA testing if wished .universal access to good lawyers and law support Internet tools, lawbooks etc. . Redress from prosecutorial persecution . reasonableaccess to governor, prosectors, parole board, attorneys, media etc. VCOMMUNICATION TOOLS: need to be accessible to all. . Mail privilegesshould be respected. . MCI as of this writing is the worst offenderin profiting by exorbitant collect call rates. Television, radio,computers, stamps for mail, etc. VI DIETARY FREEDOM: . dietaryfreedom: vegetarian, kosher, no pork, diabetic and other diets shouldbe respected. A wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables should beavailable to all. VII: INTIMACY: Conjugal rights besides keeping downthe suicide rate also reduce prison conflicts . Visitor hours VIII:INSTITUTIONAL SLAVERY: . Chain gangs, as in Arizona, should beabolished IX: FREEDOM FROM FORCED MEDICATION.. of psychiatricmedications which cause tardifdyskinesia, dry mouth, gradualrigidification of muscles, lesions in the brain tissue, addiction* *Navane is as addictive as cocaine X: religious freedom needs to beuniversal.. Just as in China it is difficult for a prisoner to read aBible if arrested for worshipping in his own faith.. so in someAmerican prisons it is difficult for prisoners to read the Koran orthe Bhagavad Gita. XI: RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM EXECUTION which isalready recognized by 106 countries Please post your additions tothis list.http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/abolish.htmlhttp://www.cuadp.org http://www.ccadp.orghttp://www.egroups.com/messages/txabolitionhttp://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/texasabolition

Abba in Jesus' name thank Youfor ending executions everywhere.Listen on web to show on abolition of death penaltyhttp://www.wamu.org Diane Rehm Show archives

A recent ABC poll had 45% in favor of state sanctioned murderand 43% opposed

A Maryland study on racist execution patterns showed that 80%of the victims in Maryland are black, but virtually all ofthe blacks on death row in Maryland were sentenced not forallegedly killing blacks but whites

The Innocence Project has freed many through DNA tests, attorneyservices etc.

Prosecutor Gilchrist in Oklahoma tampered with evidence inat least 16 cases in which some were sent to death row orexecuted.

Some are asking for the resignation of John McAdams, executionproponent, since he is on the faculty of Marquette. The vastmajority of Catholics follow Christ in opposing the death penalty.

1. The death penalty is not a deterrent say European Union studies2. Around 108 nations in the world have banned state sanctionedmurder3. Prosecutorial or police ambition, ego, or corruption can accountfor withholding evidence, changing evidence4. Jail house snitches are rewarded with reduced sentences forlying5. The racist bias in the death penalty is most prevalentin the states of Virginia, Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Alabama,Mississippi, Missouri (where Ashcroft has executed and whosestate's status as a slave state was promoted by Thomas Jefferson),South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma6. The killing of innocents has denied them the right of appeal7. The poor have not been able to afford competent attorneys.In Texas a man was executed though his attorney slept throughthe trial. Alcoholic, unconcerned attorneys have beena factor in wrongful convictions8. Alabama and Georgia provide no lawyer for appeal.9. Alabama still has a hitching post and is the only stateto allow legal handcuffing of prisoners in the hot sun ata pole.